Latch mechanism



Sept. 27, 1955 c. c. FISH LATCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 23, 195] IN V EN TOR.

CA C /CT/ A Tref/vire Sept. 27, 1955A c. c. FISH LATCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 195] Sept. 27, 1955 c. c. FISH LATCH MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23 195] INI/EN TOR.

6,442 c. fs/,f

United States Patent Diliice 2,719,049 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 LATCH MECHANISM Application July 23, 1951, Serial No. 238.183

7 Claims. (Cl. 292-220) This invention relates generally to latch mechanisms of the type employed on vehicle body doors or the like, and refers more particularly to latch mechanisms having a toothed rotary keeper arranged to coact with a latch bolt for releasably holding a vehicle door in its closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a latch mechanism of lthe above general type having relatively few simple parts capable of being inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rotary keeper type latch mechanism having an automatic take-up feature which assures securely holding the door in its closed position, and also having an arrangement rendering it possible to quickly release the latch mechanism regardless of how tight the door is held in its closed position.

A more detailed object of this invention which contributes materially to obtaining the above features is to provide latch mechanism wherein the latch bolt is retracted from the rotary keeper when-it is desired to release the latch. The arrangement is such that the keeper is not required to roll ina reverse direction along the bolt during opening movement of the door. As a consequence, a rotor having but one series of teeth may be employed; and the take-up or dogging means for the rotor may be engaged with the same series of teeth employed to engage the bolt. This arrangement not only simplifies the structure, but in addition, assures release of the latch mechanism with a minimum etort on the part of the operator.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view through a door structure and an associated door jamb;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in a different position;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 7;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 7 showing the parts in their unlatched position.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is illustrated diagrammaticallya typical vehicle body door 10 having an outer panel '11 and having an inner panel 12 spaced laterally from the outer panel to provide a space 13 within the door. One edge 14 of the door is hingedly supported in a manner not shown herein to permit swinging movement of the door in an outward direction, and the opposite or swinging edge 15 of the door is shown in Figure l as latched to a suitable pillar 16 by latch mechanism designated generally by the numeral 17. As is customary 4the door 10 has a window opening (not shown) which may be closed by a glass panel 18 supported in the space 13 adjacent the inner door panel 12 for vertical sliding movement by guide channels 19. The latch mechanism 17 is positioned within the space 13 in the door laterally outwardly of the glass panel 18, so as not to interfere with this panel or the mechanism employed for raising and lowering the same.

The latch mechanism 17 comprises a rotary keeper 20 and a latch bolt 21. The keeper 20 is hereinafter referred to as a rotor, and in the present instance, is mounted on the wall 22 of the pillar 16 by a casing 23. The casing 23 has an outwardly embossed part 24 and has an attaching flange 25 adapted for securement to the wall 22 of the pillar 16. The bottom of the casing 23 is open, and a plate 26 is secured to the casing 23 at the inner side of the embossed part 24.

The rotor 20 is rotatably mounted on a pin or shaft 27, which extends transversely of the casing 23 and has the opposite ends respectively secured to the outer wall of the casing and to the plate 26. As shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings, the rotor 20 is formed with a plurality of teeth 28 which are spaced from each other circumferentially of the rotor, and the shaft 27 is positioned so that the teeth 28 project through the opening at the bottom of the casing 23.

Also .supported within the casing 23 is a plurality of cam elements 29. The cam elements 29 have hub portions 30 which are freely rotatably supported in side by side relationship on a shaft 31 extending parallel to the shaft 27, and positioned directly above the rotor 20. The opposite ends of the shaft 31 are respectively secured to the outer wall of the casing 23 and the plate 26. The cam elements 29 are each provided with a depending projection 32 positioned to successively engage the teeth 28 on the rotor 2li. As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the projections 32 progressively decrease in length, and are biased into engagement with the rotor 20. In the present instance the projections 32 on the cam elements 29 are independently urged into engagement with the rotor by a plurality of springs 33 corresponding in number to the number of cam elements 29 and respectively engageable with the latter. As a result of this construction the cam elements coact with one another to irnpart a progressive camming action on an adjacent tooth 28 of the rotor 20, tending to rotate the rotor in a forward direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 2. As will be apparent from the following description, the above action provides an automatic take-up and assures securely holding the door in its closed position. It will also be noted that the cam elements 29 serve as dogging means to prevent rotation of the rotor 20 in the reverse direction.

The latch bolt' 21 is supported on a casing 34 comprising angularly spaced plates 35 and 36. The plate 35 extends along and is secured to the swinging edge 15 of the door 10, and the plate 36 projects into the space 13 in the door at the outer side of the path of travel of the glass panel 18.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the bolt 21 is supported by the casing 34 at the inner side of the plate 35, and an enlarged clearance opening 37 is formed in the plate 35 through which the keeper projects. In the event the casing 34 is assembled on the swinging edge of the door 10 with the plate 35 at the inner side of the edge 15 of the door as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, a

clearance opening 38 is also formed in the wall 15 in registration with the clearance opening 37. In any case the bolt 21 is located below the rotor 20, and is provided with interdentally spaced tooth-like projections 39 and 40. As will be presently set forth, the bolt 21 is normally located in a position such that the teeth 28 on the rotor have a rolling engagement with the projections on the bolt during swinging movement of the door 10 to its closed position.

As shown particularly in Figure 7 of the drawings, an arm 41 is positioned on the casing 34 at the inner side of the plate 35, and is pivotally supported intermediate the ends on a pin 42 secured to the plate 35. The lower end of the arm extends laterally toward the plate 36, and the bolt 21 is riveted or otherwise tixedly secured to this portion of the arm 41. The upper end of the arm 41 is engaged by a dog 43 pivotally supported on a pin 44 which is also secured to the plate o the casing 34. In the present instance the dog 43 engages the inner edge portion of the arm 41 adjacent the top of the latter, and holds the arm in a position wherein the bolt 21 is in blocking relationship to the rotor 20. Thus the bolt 21 is normally held in a position wherein the tooth-like projections 39 and 40 are in the path of travel of the teeth 28 on the rotor 20. A suitable spring 45 is mounted on the plate 35 of the casing 34, and engages the swinging end of the dog 43 to hold the latter in blocking relationship to the arm 41.

The dog 43 is released from blocking engagement with the arm 41 against the action of the spring 45 by an outside door operating member 47 This member is pivoted on the pin 44, and has a shoulder 48 at the inner side of the pivot 44 for engagement with a lug 49 on the dog 43. The arrangement is such that inward movement of the member 47 about the pin 44 causes the shoulder 48 to engage the lug 49 and release the dog 43 from the arm 41.

The operating member 47 is also provided with a laterally extending lug 50 which projects through an enlarged clearance opening 51 formed in the arm 41 above the pivot pin 42, and positioned to engage the adjacent portion 52 of the arm. A suitable spring S3 is supported on the plate 35 of the casing 34, and is engageable with the lug 50 for yieldably holding the operating member 47 and arm 41 in their respective normal or latching positions. Attention is called to the fact that the lug 50 is spaced below the pivot 44 in a manner such that initial inward movement of the operating member 47 about the axis of the pin 44 to release the dog 43 from the arm 41,

also releases the spring 53 from action against the arm 41. As a result when the dog 43 is released from the arm 41, the latter is free and the bolt 21 may drop by the action of gravity to its retracted position, wherein both projections 39 and 49 on the bolt are out of the path of travel of the teeth 2S on the rotor 20. be noted from Figure 6 of the drawings that the dog 43 may also be released from the inside of the door by a retracting member 53 pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof on a pin 54 which is secured to the plate 36 of the casing 34. The lower end of the member 53 has a projection 55 engageable with the underside of a lug 56 projecting laterally from the operating member 47 inwardly beyond the shoulder 4S. The upper end of the member 53 is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings as connected to one end of a link 57 having the opposite end connected to a remote control element 58 at the inner side of the door. The arrangement is such that rocking movement of the member 53 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, releases the dog 43 from the arm 41 through the medium of the operating member 47.

Provision is also made herein for blocking movement of the operating member 47 in a direction to release the dog 43, and this may be accomplished from either the in- It will side or outside of the door. Referring again to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that a locking member 60 is pivoted on a pin 61, which is secured to the plate 36 adjacent the top of the latter. The locking member 60 has a lug 62 which projects laterally between shoulders 63 and 64 on the retracting member 53. Also the locking member has a part 65 movable to a position directly above the lug 56 on the operating member 47 so as to block movement of the latter toward its released position. The above arrangement is such that when the retracting member 53 is moved in a clockwise direction to release the dog 43 from the arm 41, the shoulder 63 engages the lug 62 on the locking member and moves the latter to a position wherein the part 65 thereof is out of blocking relationship with the lug 56. On the other hand movement of the retracting member 53 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6 of the drawings causes the shoulder 64 to engage the lug 62 and swing the locking member to a position wherein the part 65 overlies the lug 56 to block releasing movement of the operating member 47.

The locking member 60 may be operated from the outside of the door by an arm 66 pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on a pin 67 which is also secured to the plate 36. The upper end of the arm 66 has a lateral projection 68, which extends through an opening 69 in the locking member 60 and has a camming action with opposite sides of this opening. The lower end of the arm 66 has a slot 70 into which the upper end of a lever 71 projects. The lever 71 is rotatably supported on the plate 36 of the casing 34, and is rotated from the outer side of the door by suitable key operated means not shown herein.

The above construction is such that when the arm 66 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 67, the locking member 60 is rotated to bring the part 65 into blocking relationship to the lug 56 on the operating member 47. On the other hand when the arm 66 is rocked in a clockwise direction, the locking member 60 is swung to a position wherein the part 65 is out of blocking relationship to the lug 56 on the operating member 47 so that the latter may be moved to its released position.

Should the door be closed when the locking member is in its locking position, provision is made for swinging the locking member 60 to its released position, and this is accomplished by a projection 72, extending laterally from the arm 66 through a slot 74 in the plate 35. This projection is located in the path of travel of the top Wall of the casing 23 when the locking member 60 is in its locked position so that the projection is engaged by the casing 23 during closing movement of the door and moved upwardly. Upward movement of the projection 72 swings the arm 66 in a clockwise direction, and thereby releases the locking member from blocking relationship to the operating member 47 Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the top Wall of the casing 23 is shaped to engage a dovetail 75. The dovetail 75 comprises a plate 76 secured to the outer side of the plate 35 and having an embossed portion 77, the bottom wall 78 of which acts as an abutment for camming engagement with the top wall of the casing 23 during closing movement of the door. The dovetail is spaced above the bolt 21 in a manner such that the rotor 20 is actually wedged into interlocking engagement with the bolt 21 when the door is in its closed position. It will be noted that the projection 72 on the arm 66 extends into the embossed portion 77 of the dovetail 7S, and the outer end of the wall 78 is slotted to permit unobstructed downward movement of the projection 72 when the locking member 60 is swung to its locking position.

peraton Assuming that the door 10 is in its open position, and that the bolt 21 is in its normal or latched position, it will be noted that during closing movement of the door,

one of the teeth 28 on the rotor 20 contacts the projection 40 in the bolt 21 so that continued closing movement of the door rotates therotor and brings the next adjacent tooth into the space between the projections 39 and 40. During this operation the cam elements 29 are engaged by another tooth of the rotor, and are swung out of the path of travel of the rotor. However as soon as a tooth 28 on the rotor assumes the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the cam elements 29 engage another tooth on the rotor and prevent reverse rotation of the latter. Thus the door is held in a partially closed position.

Continued movement of the door to its fully closed position causes the projection 39 to engage the tooth 28 on the rotor extending between the projections 39, 40 and to rotate the rotor so that the next succeeding tooth moves intolocking engagement-with the projection 39. Since the rotor is prevented from rotating in a reverse direction by the action of the cam elements 29 on an adjacent tooth 28, and since the bolt 21 is held in its raised or operative position, it follows that opening movement of the door is prevented Without first releasing the keeper. Moreover due to the nature of the cam elements previously described, the rotor is continuously urged in a forward direction to effect any reasonable degree of take-up required. i

In the event it is desired to open the door, the operator merely manipulates either theV outside operating member 47 or the inside retracting member 53. Manipulation of either of these members releases the dog 43 from blocking relation to the arm 41. This enables the bolt to drop to its retracted position wherein the projections 39 and 40 are free from engagement with the teeth on the rotor. In the event the bolt 21 does not drop by gravity to its retracted position, it will be noted that a slight outward pull on the swinging edge of the door causes one of the teeth on the rotor to exert a camming action on the adjacent projection of the bolt, and thereby shift the latter downwardly to a position where it does not interfere with opening movement of the door.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a latch mechanism for use with first and second members movable relative to one another in opening and closing directions, a casing carried by the first member, a latch releasing operating member supported on the casing for movement in opposite directions, a locking part pivotally supported on the casing and movable into blocking relation to the operating member preventing movement of the latter in a latch releasing direction, means for swinging the locking part into and out of blocking relation to said operating member including an arm pivoted intermediate its ends on the casing and connected at one side of the axis of pivotal movement to the locking part, means engageable with the arm at the opposite side of the axis of pivotal movement of said arm for swinging the arm in opposite directions, additional means for swinging the arm in a direction to release the locking part from its blocking position relative to the operating member, said additional means including an element on the second member and a projection on the arm extending into the path of travel of the element in the locking position of said arm for actuation by the element upon relative movement of the first and second members in a closing direction to release the locking part from blocking relation to the operating member.

2. In a latch mechanism for use with first and second members movable relative to one another in opening and closing directions, a casing carried by the first member and having angularly disposed first and second flanges, a latch releasing operating member supported on the firs* flange for movement in opposite directions, a locking part pivotally supported on the second flange and having a portion movable into blocking relation to the operating member preventing movement of the latter in a latch releasing direction, means for swinging the locking part into and out of blocking relation to said operating member including an arm pivoted intermediate its ends on the second fiange and connected at one side of the axis of pivotal movement to the locking part, means engageable with the arm at the opposite side of the axis of pivotal movement of said arm for swinging the arm in opposite directions, a dovetail housing carried by the rst ange and projecting outwardly from the side of the first flange opposite the side on which the operating member is supported, a lug projecting from the arm intermediate the ends thereof through a slot in the first flange and into the dovetail housing, one side wall of the dovetail housing being slotted to provide clearance for the lug upon swinging movement of said arm, and an element carried by the second member in a position to engage said lug upon relative movement of the first and second members in a closing direction and move the arm in a direction to release the locking part from blocking relation to said operating member.

3. In a latch mechanism for use with first and second members movable relative to one another in opening and closing directions, a casing carried by the first member, a latch releasing operating member supported on the casing for movement in opposite directions, means for blocking the operating member preventing movement of the latter in a latch releasing direction including a locking part supported on the casing for movement into and out of blocking relation to the operating member, an arm connected to the locking -part and supported on the casing for movement in opposite directions to move the locking part into and out of blocking relation to the operating member, means for thus moving the arm in opposite directions, additional means for moving the arm in a direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member, said additional means including an element on the second member and a projection on the arm extending into the path of travel of the element in the locking position of said arm for actuation by the element upon relative movement of the first and second members in a closing direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member.

4. In a latch mechanism for use with first and second members movable relative to one another in opening and closing directions, a casing carried by the first member, a latch supported on the casing for movement from operative position to a retracted position, a releasable element normally holding the latch in its operative position, an operating member supported on the casing for movement in one direction to engage and release the element, means for blocking the operating member preventing movement of the latter in said one direction, including a locking part pivotally supported on the casing for swinging movement into and out of blocking relation to the operating member, an arm pivoted on the casing and connected to the locking part at a point spaced from the point of pivotal connection between the arm and casing, and means for swinging the arm in a direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member, said last named means including an element on the second member and a projection on the arm extending into the path of travel of the last named element in the locking position of said arm for actuation by the last named element upon relative movement of the first and second members in a closing direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member.

5. In a latch mechanism for use with first and second members movable relative to one another in opening and closing directions, a casing carried by the first member, a latch supported on the casing for movement from operative position to a retracted position, a releasable element normally holding the latch in its operative position, an operating member supported on the casing for movement in one direction to engage and release the element, means for blocking the operating member preventing movement of the latter in said one direction, including a locking part supported on the casing for movement into and out of blocking relation to the operating member, an arm engageable with the locking part and supported on the casing for movement in one direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member, and means for moving the arm in said one direction including an element on the second member and a projection on the arm extending into the path of travel of the last named element in the locking position of said arm for actuation by the last named element upon relative movement of the rst and second members in a closing direction to move the locking part out of blocking relation to the operating member.

6. In a latch mechanism, a casing, a latch device carried by the casing for movement between operative and retracted positions, a releasable element carried by the casing and normally positively holding the latch device in operative position, an operating member supported by the casing for movement toward and away from a retracted position, said operating member having a part engageable with the element upon movement of the operating member away from the retracted position thereof to release the element, and means yieldably holding the operating member in its retracted position, said operating member having a second part engageable with the latch device in the retracted position of the operating member and yieldably holding the latch device in its operative position through the action of said means, said second part moving out of engagement with and releasing the latch device upon movement of the operating member away from its retracted position.

7. In a latch mechanism, a casing, an arm pivoted intei-mediate its ends on the casing, a latch carried by the arm adjacent one end thereof, said arm being rockable in opposite directions for movement of the latch between operative and retracted positions, a releasable element carried by the casing and normally positively holding the arm in position with the latch in operative position, an operating member pivoted on the casing for swinging movement toward and away from a retracted position, said operating member having a part engageable with the element upon movement of the operating member away from the retracted position thereof to release the element, and means yieldably holding the operating member in its retracted position, said operating member having a second part engageable with the arm in the retracted position of the operating member and yieldably holding the arm in position with the latch in operative position through the action of the means, `said second part moving out of engagement with a releasing the arm upon movement of the operating member away from its retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,070,580 Breithaupt Aug. 19, 1913 2,235,117 Rightmyer Mar. 18, 1941 2,301,559 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 2,494,754 Goughnour Jan. 17, 1950 2,582,237 Dall Jan. 15, 1952 

